Our founder Professor Michael Crawford is a visiting professor at Imperial College, London

Summary of our achievements to date

Our research work has demonstrated the supreme importance of DHA for brain growth structure and function.

We have established the importance of maternal nutrition, before and during pregnancy, to birthweight and gestational age.

It is concluded from this work that much neurodevelopmental disorder, including cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism and the rise in mental ill-health, could be prevented by a policy based on a food system designed to cater for the needs of brain growth, development and function, coupled with education on the science behind nutrition and health.

Our studies in the Sudan have highlighted the probability that a DHA deficiency co-exists with iodine deficiency. Both can retard brain development. This has implications for the 2 billion currently at risk of iodine deficiency and the consequent brain-stunting of their children. Iodine deficiency has re-appeared in schoolgirls in the UK, which should set the alarm bells ringing.

There are implications in the science discovered for the treatment of sickle cell disease, with a new approach to feeding preterm infants.

Mental ill-health is now the number one burden of ill-health. It needs to be addressed by a food policy that embraces the needs of the brain, along with education and support for young women prior to conception.

Publications on omega-3, maternal and infant nutrition

(Links to publications or abstracts included where available)

Crawford, M.A. and Sinclair, A.J. (1971) Nutritional influences in the evolution of the mammalian brain. In Lipids, malnutrition and the developing brain: 267 292. Elliot, K. and Knight, J. (Eds.). A Ciba Foundation Symposium (19 21 October, 1971). Amsterdam, Elsevier. [arachidonic acid (land) and DHA (aquatic) are limiting factors for the structure of the brain and its evolution. DHA is the most limiting]

Sinclair, A.J. and Crawford, M.A. (1972) The accumulation of arachidonate and docosahexaenoate in the developing rat brain. J. Neurochem. 19: 1753 1758. [Documentation of early post-conception, accumulation of arachidonic acid and DHA in the developing brain]

Sinclair, A.J. and Crawford, M.A. (1972). The incorporation of linolenic and docosahexaenoic acid into liver and brain lipids of developing rats. FEBS Lett. 26: 127 129. [Proof of the rate limitation in synthesis of DHA for early brain development from plant products]

FAO/WHO Joint Expert International Consultation “The Role of Fats and Oils in Human Nutrition”. Nutrition report no 3. FAO ROME. [Confirms the requirement for the brain and recommends formula for infants follow the composition of human milk – 1976 data used as evidence]

Leaf AA, Leighfield MJ, Costeloe KL and Crawford MA. (1992) Factors affecting long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid composition of plasma choline phosphoglycerides in preterm infants. J. Pediatr. Gastroenterol. Nutr. 14: 300 308. [Follow up of the above in larger number confirming the deficits, especially after birth when the feeding regime does not replace the placenta – see Lancet paper 1976. The lower the birthweight, the earlier the birth the greater the deficit of arachidonic acid and DHA. The lower the birthweight and the earlier the birth the greater the risk of neurodevelopmental disorder including cerebral palsy]

Foundation sponsored research:

It starts at school:
Doyle, W., Jenkins, S., Crawford, M.A., Puvandendran, K. (1994) Nutritional status of schoolchildren in an inner city area. Arch. Dis. Child. 70: 376 381. [29% of schoolgirls around 14 years old clinically deficient in iron as measured by blood ferritin – only 3% of boys. These girls will be mothers in few years’ time.].